Controlling device for automatic musical instruments.



a R.- W. GERTZ. CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, 1906.

1,058,963. Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

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RICHARD ,W. GERTZ, 013 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

Application filed April 12, 1906. Serial No. 311,254.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, RICHARD W. GER'rz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Controlling Devices for Automatic Musical Instruments, of which the followng description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a device for controlling the tension of the wind in automatic musical instruments, such, for instance, as automatic piano players.

In many automatic piano players provision is made for emphasizing or accentuating certain notes, such, for instance, as the theme notes or the notes of the melody more than other notes which constitute, for instance, the accompaniment. This is sometimes done by operating the pneumatics for playing the notes to be accentuated with wind having a higher tension than that used in operating the pneumatics for playing the unaccentuated notes or those of the melody.

My present invention has special reference to automatic piano players of this class, and has for its object to provide novel means for controlling independently the tension of the wind for operating the theme notes and the accompaniment notes, so that the theme notes or accompaniment notes may be accentuated or emphasized more or less without changing the expression of the other notes. In accordance with my invention I employ two regulating chambers and a tension-controlling valve for regulating the air tension in each chamber, and these two valves are constructed to be operated either simultaneously or independently. v

In the present embodiment of my invention, I employ a main controlling lever for varying simultaneously the air tension in the two regulating chambers, and an auxiliary controlling lever for determining the relative air-tension in the two regulating chambers. The auxiliary controlling lever is preferably mounted on and carried by the main controlling lever, and the construction is such that by a movement of the main lever the air-tension in both of the regulating chambers can be changed while by a movement of the auxiliary lever, the air tension in one only of said chambers may be varied.

I will first describe one embodiment of my invention and then point out the novel features thereofin the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a sectional view through two regulating chambers showing one embodiment of my invention, said figure showing one position in which the levers may be held by an operator; Fig. 2 is a section on the line mm, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line yy, Fig. 2.

3 and 4t designate two chambers which I will hereinafter refer to as regulating chambers. These chambers are independent from each other, and are connected with suitable bellows, not shown, whereby the air tension in them may be maintained. The bellows may be either exhaust bellows, thereby producing a pressure less than atmospheric pressure in each chamber, or they may be force bellows, thereby producing a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure in each chamber.

I have shown the valve arrangement to be described as adapted for use in connection with the exhaust system, although I wish it understood that by properly arranging the valves, the invention may be incorporated in a device using air under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.

The chamber 3 communicates with an exhaust chamber 5 through a suitable port -6 which is controlled by tension-controlling valve 7, and the chamber 5 has a port 8 leading to the exhaust bellows. The chamber 4 similarly communicates with an exhaust chamber 9 through a port 10 which is controlled by a tension-controlling valve 11, and the chamber 9 communicates with an exhaust apparatus through a suitable port 12.

The chambers 3 and 4 each have ports 13 communicating with wind channels leading to the pneumatics to be operated.

In the present embodiment of my invention, the tension-controlling valves 7, 11 are actuated by sliding actuators 1 1 and 15, which actuators are controlled in turn by the controlling levers 16 and 17. Each actuator 14, 15 is provided with a cam surface 160 adapted to engage a roll 170 in the end of a bell-crank lever 18. The arms 19 of the bell-crank levers 18 are connected by means of links 20 to the tension-controlling valves 7 and 11, respectively. Said valves are herein shown as being hinged at one edge, as at 21, and have rising therefrom an arm guides 23, 24. From this construction, it

will be seen that as either actuator moves to the right Fig. 1 the corresponding bell- .crank lever 18 will be rocked, thereby to open the corresponding tension-controlling valve. The amount which either tensioncontrolling valve is opened determines the air tension in the corresponding regulating chamber, as will be obvious, the air tension in either chamber increasing as the corresponding valve is opened, and decreasing as it is closed. The actuators 14, 15, are controlled by the controlling levers 16, 17, as above described. The lever 16 is shown as pivoted at one end to a fixed support, as at 27, and intermediate of its ends it has a pivotal connection with the actuator 14, as at 28.

The controlling lever 17 is carried by the controlling lever 16, said lever 17 being pivoted to the lever 16 as at 32. The lower end of the lever 17 is pivotally connected as at 31 to the actuator 15.

The two actuators 14 and 15 are yieldingly connected together by means of a suitable spring 34, one end. of which is secured to a projection 35 rigid with the actuator 14, and the other end of which is connected to a projection 36 rigid with the actuator 15.

An adjusting screw 38 screw-threaded in the projection 36 and adapted to engage the shoulder 37 formed on the actuator 14 serves to limit the movement of the actuators toward each other. Said spring 34 has suflicient tension so that when the actuating levers 16 and 17 are released it will draw the shoulder 37 against the stop 38. In Fig. 1, however, the parts are shown separated as they would be when the device is being opera-ted, and it is to be understood that said figure does not show the parts in the position which they assume when the levers are released but in a position in which they are held by the operator.

The controlling lever 16 is preferably provided at its upper end with finger-receiving recesses 29 and 30, the recess 29 being of a shape to receive the fore-finger of the hand, and the recess 30 of a shape to receive the otherthree fingers. The controlling lever 17 is provided at its upper end with the thumbreceiving recess 33.

Since the actuators are yieldingly connected together, it will be seen that both actuators may be moved in unison by operat ing the controlling lever 16, while the actuator 15 can be given a movement relative to the actuator 14 by operating the controlling lever 17.

For convenience I have hereinafter referred to the lever 16 as the main cont-rolling lever and the lever 17 as the auxiliary controlling lever.

If the two controlling levers are held immovable relative to each other and the main controlling lever 16 is operated in either direction, the two actuators 14 and 15 will be operated simultaneously in the same direction and the two tension controlling valves 7 and 11 will. also be simultaneously operated with the result that the air tension in the two regulating chambers 3 and 4 will be varied simultaneously. It, on the other hand, the main controlling lever 16 is held stationary and the auxiliary controlling lever 17 is turned about its pivot 32, then the air tension valve 11 will be operated relative to the valve 7, and as a result the air tension in the chamber 4 will be increased or diminished relative to that in the chamber 3.

If the lever 17 is properly manipulated relative to the lever 16 when said lever 16 is turned from one position to another, then the .actuator 15 will remain stationary whereby a constant air tension will be maintained in the chamber 4, but at the same time the actuator 14 will be moved, thus varying the air tension in the chamber 3. It will thus be seen that by properly regulat ing the two controlling levers the air tension in the two regulating chambers 3 and 4 can be varied either simultaneously or independently of each other.

In order to maintain a uniform air tension in either chamber after the tension-controlling valve has been set at a desired point and regardless of the number of pneumatics to be operated, I have provided a counterbalancing device for the tension-controlling valves which I will now describe.

The counterbalancing device for each of the tension-controlling valves is the same, and a description of one will answer for both.

40 designates a counter-balancing pneumatic situated in the regulating chamber and communicating through a duct or port 41 with the exhaust chamber 5. This countel-balancing pneumatic is connected with the tension valve 7 through a lever 42. The counterbalancing pneumatic has the same area as the valve, and the lever 42 is pivoted centrally so that the suction on the valve 7 is exactly counterbalanced by that on the counterbalancing pneumatic 40.

44 designates a pneumatic or bellows from which extends an arm 45 connected to the valve This pneumatic 44 communicates by a duct 46 with a chamber 47 having atmospheric pressure therein, and the duct 46 is controlled by a valve 48, the stem 49 of which is connected to the movable side of the pneumatic 44. As the vacuum in the chamber 3 increases, the pneumatic 44 will tend to expand, thereby tending to close the tension-controlling valve 7. The purpose of the pneumatic 44 is to automatically maintain a uniform air tension in the chamber 3 after the desired tension has been maintained by manipulating the controlling levers 16 and 17.

In order to permit the above described movement of either tension controlling valve while the actuator therefor remains stationary, I have shown each arm 19 as having a resilient tip 57 to which the rod 20 is secured, so that when either counterbalancing pneumatic 40 is operated the connection 57 will yield sufliciently to permit the corresponding tension controlling valve to be moved sufliciently to maintain the tension in the chamber uniform.

The fingerand thumb-receiving recesses in the main and auxiliary levers are especially shaped to conveniently receive the thumb and fingers of the left hand, and in the operation of the device, the weight of the operators hand naturally comes on the main controlling lever 16, so that it is comparatively easy to hold this lever steady, while manipulating the lever 17 with the thumb.

In practice it is usually desirable to vary the air tension in the regulating chamber 4: oftener than in the regulating chamber 3, and with the device herein shown this can immediately be accomplished merely by a movement of the thumb toward and from the fingers of the left hand. By moving the whole hand without changing the relative positions of the two levers, the air ten sion in the two regulating chambers may be simultaneously increased or decreased, as will be obvious.

I have not attempted to show herein and to describe all embodiments of my invention, but have selected merely the preferred embodiment thereof.

It will be noted that the actuator 15 carries at its end a stop screw 38 and that the actuator 14 is provided with a shoulder 37 opposite said top screw. This stop screw provides means whereby a greater air tension in one of the wind chambers than the other can be continuously maintained if so desired, for it will be observed that by adjusting said stop screw the distance which the two actuators can be moved toward each other is varied and, therefore, the minimum distance between the cam surfaces 160 can be varied. The distance between the rolls 170 is fixed and since these surfaces 160 are curved in the same direction any adjustment of the actuators relative to each other will cause a variation in the relative positions of the valves 7 and 11. It is possible, therefore, to adjust the stop screw 38 so that when it engages the shoulder 37 one of the two tension controlling valves will be opened more than the other and this relation will be maintained in all positions of the two actuators so long as the stop screw is held against the shoulder 37.

Having described my invent-ion what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a controlling device for automatic musical instruments, two separate and independent wind chambers, two valves, one for each chamber for controlling the air tension therein, and two pivoted controlling members, one for each valve, one member being carried bodily by the other.

2. In a controlling device for automatic musical instruments, two wind chambers, a

valve for each for controlling the air tension wind chambers, a valve for each chamber for controlling the air tension therein, a main controlling lever operatively connected to both valves for actuating both simultaneously, and an auxiliary controlling lever carried by the main controlling lever and operatively connected to one valve only.

4. In a device of the class described, two wind chambers, a valve for each wind chamber for controlling the air tension therein, a pivoted main controlling lever operatively connected to both valves, and an auxiliary controlling lever pivotally carried by the main controlling lever, and operatively connected to one valve only.

5. In a device of the class described, two wind chambers, a valve for each wind chamber to control the air tension therein, an actuator for each valve, and a main and an auxiliary pivoted controlling member, one connected to each actuator, the auxiliary member being carried by the main member.

6. In a device of the class described, two wind chambers, a valve for each wind chambeer to control the air tension therein, a sliding actuator for each valve, a main controlling lever connected to one actuator, and an auxiliary controlling lever pivotally carried by the main lever and connected to the other actuator.

7. In a device of the class described, two wind chambers, a valve for eachwind chamber to control the air tension therein, an actuator for each, valve, a main controlling lever pivoted at one end and connected to one actuator intermediate of its ends, an auxiliary controlling lever carried by the main controlling lever pivoted intermediate of its ends thereto and connected at one end to the other actuator,

8. In a device of the class described, two regulating chambers, a tension-controlling valve for each chamber, a main controlling lever pivoted at one end and operatively connected to one tension-controlling valve,

regulating chambers, a valve for cont-rolling the air tension in each regulating chamber,

a bell-crank lever operatively connected to each valve, a cam actuator for controlling each lever, a mam controlling lever con- .nected to one actuator, and an auxiliary con trolling lever pivotally carried by the main controlling lever and connected to the other actuator.

10. In a device of the class described, two wind chambers, a valve for each for controlling the air tension therein, two connected controlling levers for said valves, one having two finger-receiving recesses at its upper end and the other a thumb-receiving recess at its upper end.

11. In a device of the class described, two wind chambers, a valve for each chamber to control the air tension therein, a main controlling lever operat-ively connected to both valves whereby both may be operated in unison, and an auxiliary controlling lever sustained by the main controlling lever and operatively connected to one only of the valves, the main controlling lever having at its upper end finger-receiving recesses, and

the auxiliary lever having at its upper end a thumb-receiving recess.

12. In a device of the class described, two regulating chambers, a tension-controlling valve for each chamber, a counterbalancing pneumatic operatively connected with each valve, and two connected controlling levers, one for operating each valve, one of said controlling levers being carried by the other.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with two wind chambers, of a valve for each wind chamber to control the air tension therein, an actuator for each valve, adjustable means carried by one actuator to limit the movement of the other actuator relative thereto in one direction, and main and auxiliary controlling levers for operating the actuators.

1a. In a device of the class described, the combination with two wind chambers, of a valve for each wind chamber to control the air tension therein, a sliding actuator for each valve, main and auxiliary controlling levers for operating the actuators, and an adjustable stopscrew carried by one actuator and adapted to be engaged by the other thereby to limit the movement of the actuators toward each other.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RICl-ID. W. GERTZ. lVitnesses LOUIS G. SMITH, BERTHA F. HEUSER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

